Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been added to the UK’s sanctions list.
The UK said on Thursday it had imposed asset freezes on several Russian businessmen including Mr Abramovich, Igor Sechin and Oleg Deripaska, after they were added to the country’s sanctions list.
As part of the UK’s efforts to isolate Vladimir Putin and those around him, the oligarchs – who have a collective net worth of around £15bn – will have their assets in the UK frozen.
Under the move, they are also banned from travelling to the UK and no UK citizen or company will be allowed to do business with them.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said Mr Putin’s attacks on Ukraine involved “new levels of evil by the hour” and the Government had announced further sanctions “against individuals linked to the Russian Government.
“This list includes Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club,” she said.
She acknowledged this would have an impact on the premiership side but a special licence would enable it to continue operating.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said on Twitter: “Our priority is to hold those who have enabled the Putin regime to account.
“Today’s sanctions obviously have a direct impact on Chlesea & its fans. We have been working hard to ensure the club & the national game are not unnecessarily harmed by these important sanctions.
“To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club.
“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the Government will work with the league & clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We’re committed to protecting them.”
